§ Mr. BreedTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effect on quota values of including heifers in the suckler cow quota. [142255]
§ Ms QuinThe inclusion of heifers on suckler cow premium claims up to a maximum of 20 per cent. is only one of a number of factors contributing to the recent rise in lease and sale values of suckler cow premium quota. Its effects cannot be determined in isolation. Other relevant factors include
the reduction in the overall availability of quota resulting from the Agenda 2000 settlement;the lack of any allocation from the national reserve this year;the seasonally high demand to secure quota before the end of the suckler cow premium claim period—6 December.Most farmers already have sufficient quota to support their claims; only a small percentage of the 1.7 million units of quota in the UK is traded each year.